Haim

Everyone’s favorite trio of sisters, Haim took to their Beats1 radio show, Haim Time today to release a BloodPop remix of Little Of Your Love. It seemed like we hadn’t seen them in forever before they hit the festival circuit last year, but Haim is back in full swing. July saw the release of their highly anticipated sophomore album, Something To Tell You along with a string of tour dates. BloodPop breathes a new, more energetic life into the song with an EDM vibe.

Avid fans of Haim often call “The Wire,” a song they regularly play live, the sisters’ best song. After premiering it on Zane Lowe‘s BBC Radio 1, the IRL angels have dropped the audio gold. Haim is almost definitely a band you and your mom can agree on. This is ’80s mom rock, and I love it.

Summer is nearing its end, but summer music festivals still have some unfinished business. Lollapalooza in particular is coming up next weekend and what better to do than name all the great acts that are going to be there? The list is pretty freaking huge but I’m going to break down some of my top picks for each day. This will either help you out in forming your own schedule when you’re there or maybe I’m just putting salt in a wound since you can’t make it. Either way, hit the jump to check out the full list of top acts you need to see at Lollapalooza 2013.

HAIM is supposed to have a breakthrough year this year. The hipster sisters Haim, who have earned comparisons to Fleetwood Mac in the past, give us a taste of their inner Michael Jackson today. Anybody else hear that spunk in their sound? I have to admit, I’m not 100% sold on HAIM compared to all other music bloggers who seem to orgasm over anything and everything HAIM, but this song is getting me one step closer. They were holding steady at first base for me, but they might have made it to second at this one. Let’s hope they keep rounding the bases. The question is: will it be for their sake or mine?

Welcome to the 7th Artist Picks feature. This is one of my personal favorite features on Sunset. To refresh your memories, let’s recap what this feature entails. We are asking people, be they artists, listeners, or fans, what they would do if they were stranded on an island with an iPod that held only 10 songs. Which songs would they pick and why? This week we asked Ludwig Goransson, one of Sunset’s favorite emerging producers. If you live like us in the hyperactive world of the Internet, chances are you’ve heard Ludwig’s music somewhere. His resumé is impressive. He is Childish Gambino‘s main producing partner, he also produced Haim‘s catchy debut EP, he dropped a solo EP this year under the Ludovin moniker, and he composes for hit TV shows such as New Girl and Community.

1. Michael Andrews – I’m Not Following You

If I was stranded on an island, I would start listening to something that would help me dream away. Also because I do a lot of film scoring, I feel obligated to choose at least 1 film score song. I heard this song right before I moved to the States, and it changed my perception about what a film score has to be. It opened up my ears to how important it is to have your own voice, and that’s something I really think Michael Andrew has.

2. Loney, Dear – Airport Surroundings

Loney, Dear is one of my favorite Swedish artist right now. I love the dynamics in this song, how it grows and breaths. Also, I love the bass lines, and I think it’s kind of funny that the song sounds like an ’80s action movie in the end.

3. Kurt Rosenwinkel – If I Should Lose You

Kurt Rosenwinkel is and will always be my big idol. His interpretation of “If I Should Lose You” is flawless. Although I love his original songs I chose this one because I love music that makes you feel sentimental and melancholic. If you listen really carefully to his guitar tone, you can hear that he is singing in falsetto at the same time in the background, that’s what creates his unique tone.

4. Beach House – Used to Be

Continuing the feeling of sentimentality and melancholia, I chose the best representable song of those feelings and also my favorite song of 2010. I listened to this album so many times I can’t listen to it anymore, but I’d still choose it as one of my 10 tracks (that’s how much I like it). I also saw Beach House at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010 which was an amazing show.

5. Stina Nordenstam – So Lee

I got introduced to Stina Nordenstam by my sister when I was around 10. I remembered I thought she sounded like a smurf. A few years later I couldn’t stop listen to her. Her voice is so interesting, so whatever she sings her voice will make it sound new and different.

6. Meshuggah – Future Breed Machine

Every now and then I have the urge to listen to really heavy metal, and the only metal band I listen to is Meshuggah. They are the real innovators of metal, and I haven’t heard a band since them that has the ability to make so perfect song structures and arrangements. Meshuggah is the best live band I’ve ever seen, every time I go home after their shows I feel like I got my heart punched to a bloody mess by a double kick drum. Also, blasting Meshuggah in the car ride home from Coachella really helped me to not fall asleep, in other words they kind of saved my life.

7. Jan Johansson – Mellan Branta Stränder

I think this piece is so beautiful and simple it doesn’t need anything else.

8. The Beach Boys – God Only Knows

I just started to listen to Beach Boys a couple of years ago. Every time I listen to them I get inspiration for my productions. Even though these songs are recorded over 40 years ago, the production still feels so fresh. I have some very obvious Beach Boys references in my TV scores, especially New Girl.

If I would be left alone on an island, why wouldn’t I have the best piece of music ever created with me? An interesting fact is that the premiere involved one of the most famous classical music riots in history. The intensely rhythmic score and primitive scenario and choreography shocked the audience that was accustomed to the elegant conventions of classical ballet. At the start some members of the audience began to boo loudly. These were soon followed by shouts and fistfights in the aisles.

10. Meek Mill – Amen (ft. Drake & Jeremih)

Meek Mill’s “Amen” goes hard in my iPod right now, I’m such a sucker for that gospel piano. It’s such a perfect beat.

I think we take free music for granted. I mean, I’m pretty sure if you try hard enough you can find any song on the Internet for free. Most of the time, this is illegal and heavily frowned upon (by someone probably). Sometimes, however, artists give their music away for free legal download. While this generally isn’t out of sheer kindness (but instead a hope for more online popularity and future purchases), it still is nice and is something that shouldn’t go unacknowledged. The following artists recently dropped free projects that you should get acquainted with.

1. HAIM – Forever

These sisters are unique (they actually are sisters; I’m not weirdly patronizing them). With the three songs on Forever, they show off their indignant, retro flare and 90’s era sass. And I love it. I especially like how they sneaked “fucked” into “Better Off.” Check them out below. Seriously. Don’t be weird.

2. Kendall Elijah – Eli Dynamite

It’s cool when young rappers like Kendall Elijah produce their own music. It makes their projects completely DIY, which gives the listener a unique introduction into the artist’s mind and imagination. What Kendall created on his Eli Dynamite EP plays kind of like a vintage movie soundtrack screwed into a hip hop album. I don’t know, maybe I’m crazy, but when I listen to it (like right now) I can see the movie play out in my mind. There’s something cinematic about this assortment of songs, and I really like it. Check out the EP below along with the music video for “The Wild.” [via Mostly Junk Food]

3. BASTILLE – Other People’s Heartache

You may remember Bastille from the City High cover (“What Would You Do?”) that we posted last October. Just a few weeks ago, the band released a mixtape full of dramatic interpretations of modern indie classics. I think it’s really cool that Bastille chose to do this, appeasing fans with free new music while conjointly working on their original material (watch the music video for new song “Overjoyed” here). I just hope this inspires more and more indie bands to venture down the mixtape path.